The passion of Stanley and Stella...

It is clear to me why New Orleans is the setting for this incredible play of passion, desire, and devastation.  Having spent much time in the city, and particularly in the Quarter, I finally understood when people would say that a city had a heartbeat.  Just walking the streets of the Quarter, I could feel the life, the passion, the soul of this city.  It breathed.  I could feel every inhale and exhale of it's existence.  This was a place that brought me back to life, after several years and started me on a new journey, allowing me to release my old self, which had become such a tired, 'ruin' of my former self.  

This city is one of the most electrifying and passionate places on earth... not romantic, like Florence or Paris - but, Passionate, primal, raw.   

This city is part of the fuel in the fire between Stella and Stanley Kowalski.  It is a magical city, a place of power and raw emotion that pushes and prods these two people into emotional oblivion.  When these two characters are on stage, something electrifying occurs.  A pulsing heartbeat is felt... something inexplicable, something deep... 

The passion between them could be compared to that of pure primal, animalistic  emotions.  They need each other, they ache for each other and, in some sense, they are each other.   

Even the abuse thrown on Stella is wrought with a passion so deep, that only when they are together, does any of it make any sense...

 There has been some debate amongst our cast about whether Stanley cheats... whether Stella stays with him after Blanche is sectioned... why AND how they got together in the first place...

What fuels Stanley's anger... his abuse... his control?  Stella's own attempt at control?  Or, is it something else...Blanche?

 What of his heartfelt, desperate plea for Stella to return home to his bed... Why does she do it?  Why does their need for each other overpower what is sensible...  What is he really fighting for?

 Stella?  Stanley?  Blanche?  ... What is the dangerous co-dependency they share, fight against, Run from and run right back to...

The actors taking on these roles must be able to draw on a deep connection, while trusting and understanding each other.   As we finish up blocking in our production, it is my hope that Juliet (Stella) and Titus (Stanley) will be able to let go and allow the elements of Stanley and Stella,  already inherent within each of them, push through. 

Stella... Primal, Passionate, and a star in Blanche's world...

Stella, Stella, Stella...  A role packed with intense passion and for many young ladies, a dream role.

My view?  Well, Stella is in her early to mid 20's, a passionate being, who is intensely dedicated to the people in her life.   Her accent is layered with the NOLA inflection.  She is the focus of both Stanley and Blanche's attentions.  A 'star' that both characters are drawn to...  Stella, like Blanche, is from Mississippi.  She left in her late teens, presumably to seek a little freedom from her sister and the confines of the aging ruin of a relic, Belle Reve.  She was likely attracted to the decadence of New Orleans, the freedom and primal 'heartbeat' that exists all through the city.  She is fundamentally, a primal character... seeking her survival, seeking a life away from the cobwebbed gentility of her childhood world.  


Extremely dedicated to her sister, extremely drawn to her husband, Stella becomes the 'prize' in the battle between Stanley and Stella.  Blanche expects the sisterly love and dedication of Stella... Stanley demands (and gets) it.  


The relationship between Stanley and Stella is intensely base and sexual.  When the two are together, passion will fill the room.  The chemistry will be electric and that little heartbeat, I spoke about above will completely overtake the senses.   They are drawn to each other, as a cat in heat is drawn to the local tomcat.  However, I do believe there is love between them, but there is also control.  Though, he comes from a family of tradition, he considers himself a 'new man', looking toward the changes the world is making after the end of World War II. 

Stella so wants to be a good wife and please her husband, but she is also a 'new woman'.  She fights the gentility of her upbringing, with her desperate need for independence.  But, still she 'belongs' to Stanley, knows it, and accepts it.  The more she accepts it, the more dependent she is on him for her base survival. 


Her love and dedication to Blanche is fueled by her memories of childhood... probably notable and cherished memories, as the two girls seemed to be a 'team' in a world dominated by expectations, society, and even the men of their family.  In my view, Blanche looked after Stella, cared for her, and loved her.  Probably the only honest love either have ever experienced in their lives.  

I do believe Stella is dealing with her own demons from her past (and the current issues of abuse from Stanley)  and as Blanche's  mind begins to deteriorate, she finds yet another to contend with.  As we leave the little house on Elysian Fields, we are led to believe that Stella will go on living, with little or no fallout from the tragic scene that just occurred.  But, really now... She just sent her sister off to be 'sectioned' for the rest of her life, with little hope of recovery... just the knowledge of 'promising' new techniques to help the insane...  hmmm...  How blind is Stella really?

Now for a few audition notes for Stella-- 

The actress cast should be able to sing, as I would like to have the character sing at different points .


She should be able to handle a lot of movement -- let's just say she will spend a great deal of time in Stanley's arms.


She should be quietly intense and powerful... facially strong in in emotion and packed (herself) with 'layer upon layer' of personality, life experience, and performance opinion... 


I have been asked several times what my perfect Stella would look like (and Blanche and Stanley and Mitch)... I hate to pre determine a cast physically in my mind, so that little tidbit of insight shall remain a mystery... for now.  


Now, for Tuesday / Wednesday...  Have not had a lot of questions regarding Mitch (only 3 or 4), but will be discussing him a bit in the next post.  And, then on to some general comments about auditions and my views on the show in general, so stay tuned!

Set, Production Meetings, and Stanley, oh my....

Have been so busy tying up other theatre projects (both enjoyable and tedious), but am now back on track for Streetcar.  Begin production meetings next week and am excited to get the set underway... My visions are far bigger than the budget will allow, but have the budget numbers now and am scaling down to my non-negotiable set elements.  Am really pleased with what may be appearing on stage!

So pleased to hear from more auditionees!  Love hearing everyone's ideas about characters, portrayal, approach... Will make auditions so much richer and give me so much to consider!  Speaking of auditions, I will be posting more reminders and details as the next weeks progress.  And, don't forget, if you would like to have your audition form pre-filled to save time on the night, then just message me through facebook, give me your e-mail address, and I will forward you a PDF as soon as I can!

Now, as most of my inquiries have been about one particular brutish character, I think we shall take a little look at him right now.  What to say about Stanley... most of the questions that have been posed, have to do with dialect and what I am looking for. What I have said to most of the queries regarding Stanley's dialect and character: 

"As for Stanley, Williams does not give us much in the way of a firm 'back story' for Stanley, it is something that (with guidance from the director) should be left up to actor interpretation. There are a number of clues in the script that can lead character development in a number of directions. Honestly, I prefer to see how an auditioning actor interprets a character, without a lot of early directorial input... So, I would like to see what you feel is the strongest direction to take the character.

But, the guidance I will give you may help you get started and give you some things to think about. First, It is not as simple as saying that his dialect should be taken in one direction or another. His accent will be layered with different regional and European dialects. For example, we know that Stanley was born in the US to Polish Immigrants... because of this, he grew up around the polish language and / or accent in the home. This will affect his current American regional accent. It is probable that his family immigrated into New York and lived there for a period of time, giving him a dialect suitable to that area. He likely moved to New Orleans in his late teens to find work, as New Orleans and the Gulf Coast was an area of growth and development during the 30's and 40's. So... We could surmise that Stanley left his parent's home to find work in the south. His regional dialect was already strongly developed, but the NOLA accent is a very strong one, quickly influencing any accent already developed."

I know, some of you have actually had this sent to you in an e-mail in response to questions...  More insight will come soon.  As for the subject of dialect, in general, a fan of an authentic dialect... one that has truly been studied is properly formed. Listen to the sounds, observe the mouth formations, and understand the sound and places of resonance... Also, it always helped me to have a little look at the history of the dialect or accent I was attempting.

Now, to get in the mood, have a little look of one of the lovely little gems that exist in the Quarter.

More in a day or so!